Wayanad airport: meet on October 11

The government, while deciding to convene a meeting on October 11 on the proposed feeder airport at Wayanad, has announced that it will go ahead with the project only after taking the people into confidence.

A meeting chaired by Minister for Airports K. Babu here on Saturday decided to hold a meeting to discuss the proposed project at the Wayanad Collectorate at 10 a.m. on October 11 in the wake of the mounting opposition against the project.

Mr. Babu said works for the feeder airport at Panamaram in Wayanad would not take off if the local people were not interested. The government would take steps to clear apprehension of the local people.

A rehabilitation package would be worked out and those being displaced would get compensation as per the market rate. A techno-economic feasibility study and environment impact assessment would be carried out before evolving the final plan, he added.

Minister for Youth Welfare P.K. Jayalakshmi, M.A Shanawaz, MP, managing director of the Kerala State Industrial Development Corporation Tom Jose, and local elected representatives attended the meeting.

The KSIDC had been appointed nodal agency after a feasibility study by the Airports Authority of India identified Panamaram as the most suitable site.

The airport is proposed to be developed in a public-private partnership model. night Frank (India) Pvt Ltd has been appointed to carry out the techno-economic feasibility study and the environment impact assessment for the airport. The effort of the government in setting up the airport was to boost connectivity, which would enhance tourism potential of the district and the State. At present, Wayanad was connected only by road.